Hi guys, am going to buy my nephew a magna, looking at 2 currently, both tr models, with it being a safe car.

what is reccomended to be checked and changed for a 250 000 km magna that does not have service books? what part should be changed after such logged distances?

want it to be extremely reliable as little buddy is going to college/uni now and learning to be a doctor :)

. . . . . . . tr models. . . . . 250 000 km . . . . . . . . . extremely reliable. . . . . .

those 3 excerpts from your post don't really go together. Just like me saying I want a cheap, old car to never let me down. Its just not realistic. Look for something younger with less Km. A 5 yr old car with less than 100,000 km would be much more reliable.

Back to the original qestion...

Look for the basics first,
- Regular servicing/maintenaince: Oil Changes, filters, plugs leads etc Check up on log books.
- What Parts have been replaced/need replacing and why
- Major Servicing intervals (Timing belt/chain replaced)
- Cooling System condition - water pump, thermostat, radiator, fluid cleanliness, hoses etc

if you look after the basics of any vehicle you will have fewer problems, but in saying so, all cars have problems here and there. But with mileage like that your unfortunately bound to find problems...

Ive got a 2.6 TS manual and shes been a great trooper, going on 280k, has had a few dramas here and there but a bit of TLC has kept her purring :)
Regardless, there will always be a better car out there, just as the grass is always greener.

Are you looking at 4 cylinder or V6 models?

If it's the V6, I'd be doing the timing belt and water pump as a precautionary. Other then that, check log books, check oil condition, take it for a good thrash to see if any other problems arise on a test drive, check coolant and oil


Although, a TR magna these day's isn't the wisest choice. I'd be looking at a TE-TF. Same kinda shit but it's a bit newer.

Honestly, Big 4, trying to save the OP some grief by suggesting he needs to aim higher and younger . . . having struggled with a TS 2.6 for 5 years and a TS 3.0 for two years, I know that an old Magna isn't the car you buy and then hand over to a relative and expect smooth sailing. My grand daughter (yes, I'm old) needed a car and I bought her a manual '97 Lancer with 97,000 Km on it. It was $7K at the time, but it has been trouble free for the past 2 years. Before that she borrowed the 2.6 Magna and in a short time she brought it back twice, once for a shattered rear screen (parked on street, beer bottle through it) and the second when the clutch went. That's when I bought the Lancer, I was sick of recurring problems. The Lancer was driven from Adelaide to Townsville by her and her boyfriend, and will do the return trip at Christmas. Like I said, just trying to save the OP some grief. lol Nephew will want a car that runs well and reliably, and being young he will knock up the Km quickly. A 250,000 km TR will not be up to that.

You guys forgot to mention possible problems with wheel bearings, wobbly discs, drive shaft boots, leaking steering rack, alternators and starter motors that die at about that age, the list goes on. lol

Honestly, Big 4, trying to save the OP some grief by suggesting he needs to aim higher and younger . . . having struggled with a TS 2.6 for 5 years and a TS 3.0 for two years, I know that an old Magna isn't the car you buy and then hand over to a relative and expect smooth sailing. My grand daughter (yes, I'm old) needed a car and I bought her a manual '97 Lancer with 97,000 Km on it. It was $7K at the time, but it has been trouble free for the past 2 years. Before that she borrowed the 2.6 Magna and in a short time she brought it back twice, once for a shattered rear screen (parked on street, beer bottle through it) and the second when the clutch went. That's when I bought the Lancer, I was sick of recurring problems. Like I said, just trying to save the OP some grief. lol Nephew will want a car that runs well and reliably, and being young he will knock up the Km quickly. A 250,000 km TR will not be up to that.

Indeed, well, If it hasn't been maintained correctly - both my car's have all new brakes/clutch/fluids/timing belts and water pumps

;1320393']Indeed, well, If it hasn't been maintained correctly - both my car's have all new brakes/clutch/fluids/timing belts and water pumps

But I doubt that any other Magna in Australia would come up to the standard of meticulous maintenance that your cars experience! (That's a compliment by the way) Most of them are sad indeed.

fair point imma touch anal lol
So to wrap this up
if you want a 2nd gen with 250K on the clock
-Dont expect it to be reliable
-Dont expect it to not give you headaches
-Look for a 3rd gen.

;1320404']fair point imma touch anal lol
So to wrap this up
if you want a 2nd gen with 250K on the clock
-Dont expect it to be reliable
-Dont expect it to not give you headaches
-Look for a 3rd gen.


Good summary!

On the first point - I did think that getting under your car and cleaning everything with your toothbrush was a bit much, really. lol

Good summary!

On the first point - I did think that getting under your car and cleaning everything with your toothbrush was a bit much, really. lol

Jealousy of a clean 2nd gen undercarriage!

;1320411']Jealousy of a clean 2nd gen undercarriage!

Hey! Mine is clean! I just keep a thick layer of dirt and oil on mine to avoid rust and stone chips!